Method of irradiation



Patented Mar. 8, 1932 CHARLES BILLS, OF EVAN SVILLE,

INDIANA, ASSIGNOR T0 MEAD JOHN SON 1!:

COMPANY, OF EVANSVILLE, INDIANA, A CORPORATION OF INDIANA.

METHOD OF IRRADIATION No Drawing. Original application filed June 10, 1929, Serial No. 369,556. Divided and'this application filed March 24, 1930. Serial No. 438,827.

This invention relates to a method of irradiation, particularly adaptedfor irradiation of fluids and substances carried in solution. The present application is a division of my co-p'ending application, Serial 369,556, filed June 10, 1929.

The main object of the invention is to devise a method by the use of which the matter to be irradiated may be efiiciently treated with light rays, without exposure to the air.

The method has been used to advantage in the irradiation of solutions of ergosterol in arachis (peanut) oil, but obviously other edible oils, preferably bland vegetable oils, or

" other solvents may be used; and the invention is equally useful for irradiating oils and other fluids not containing added ergosterol. It is old in the art to provide irradiating apparatus such as a quartz mercury vapor lamp and to locate'the same in any desired position relative to a receptacle containing the substance to be treated. In using such apparatus, the relative positions of the lamp and the receptacles are not always arranged to the best advantage for the intended purpose, and the treated substance may be exposed to air, which is to be avoided, especially in the case of oils which become rancid when exposed to. ultraviolet light and air.

One example of a type of lamp heretofore used for ultra-violet irradiation is that known as the Kromayer lamp, made by the Hanovia Chemical and Manufacturing Company, which consists of a quartz burner containing the mercury and electrodes, a quartz jacket surrounding the burner but spaced therefrom to provide a vacuum chamber between the burner and the jacket, and an outer casing of metal, having inlet and outlet ports. Thisouter casing is spaced from the quartz jacket and thus provides a chamber or passageway for water which is circulated through the chamber for cooling the burner. Of course, the water does not touch the burner because it' is separated therefrom by the quartz jacket and vacuum chamber. Heret'ofore such lamps have been placed in any desired position relative to a receptacle containing the substance to be irradiated, and the light rays from the burner pass through Ehe quartz jacket, through the water used or window in the being treated.

A lamp of the type described'may be somewhat modified for use in'practicing the method of the present invention. The ergosterol solution or other fluid to be irradiated may be conducted to and from the lamp in such manner that it flows through the lam chamber between the quartz jacket of the burner and the lamp casing. In this way, the material receives the full benefit ofthe ultra-violet light from the quartz' burner without exposure to air, and the necessity for water cooling the lamp is also avoided.

The preferred apparatus for use in practicing the method of this invention is fully set forth, described and claimed in my said co-pending application of which this is .a

metal housing to the matter division. Obviously, various forms of apparatus may be used. Broadly, the apparatus embodies a container for the fluid to be treated, a source of ultra violet light such as a quartz mercury vapor lamp having a chamber between the quartz-jacketed burner and the lamp casing, means for. repeatedly conducting the fluid from the container through the lamp chamber to expose the moving stream of fluid to the light, means for conducting the stream back to the container, and means in the system for cooling the fluid after exposure to the light. Preferably the contain-er'for the fluid is provided with inert gas to occupy the space above the level of the fluid in the container. A pump or other suitable means may be provided for circulating the fluid.

The method consists in placing the fluidor substance in solution, to be irradiated,

in a container,causing a stream of the fluid to be circulated, in a practial absence of air, exposing successive parts of the moving stream to light rays, cooling the exposed parts of the stream, and repeating the cycle of operations until irradiation is complete.

The circulation of the oil solution is continued as long as is necessary to obtain good activation. For example, to activate two litersof a solution of ergosterol consisting of cooling the lamp, and then through a I ten grams of ergosterol in two liters of arachis oil, using a modified Kromayer lamp at normal voltage, requires about three hours.

However, the time of activation depends on many factors, such as voltage,'age and condition'of the lamp, concentration of the ergosterol solution, rate of circulation'through the lamp purity of the solvent, etc;

From the foregoing it will be seenlthat the oil being circulated is at no time exposed to the deleterious eflfects of the air; all the fluid is uniformly treated with the light rays, and the full radiance of the lamp is utilized for its intended purpose. The circulation of the oily fluid through the lamp, as herein described, therefore results in unusually efiicient and direct irradiation and obviates the necessity for water cooling the lamp.

I claim 1. The method of irradiating fluids and substances in solution, which consists in causing a stream of the fluid to'be circulated, exposing v successive parts of the moving stream to ultra-violet light, cooling the exposed parts of the stream, and repeating the cycle of operations until the irradiation is complete.

2. The method of irradiating fluids and substances in solution, which consists in causing a stream of the fluid to be circulated in a practical absence of air, exposing successive parts of the moving stream to ultraviolet light, cooling the exposed parts of the stream, and repeating the cycle of operations until the irradiation is complete.

3. The method of irradiating uids and substances in solution, which consi s in cansing a stream of the fluid to be continually circulated, exposing successive parts of the moving stream to ultra violet light by passing the stream into direct contact with a source of ultra violet li ht, cooling the exposed parts i of the stream a er the same have passed out of contact with the source of light, and repeating the cycle of operations until the irradiation is complete.

4. The method of irradiating fluids and substances in solution, which consists in causing a stream of the fluid to be continually circu ated in a practical absence of air, exposing successive parts of the moving stream to ultra violet light, by passing the moving stream into the space between the casing and the quartz jacket of the burner of a quartz mercury vapor lama; cooling the exposed parts of the stream a r same have passed out of said lamp, and repeating the cycle of operations until the irradiation is complete.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention, I afiix my signature this 20th day-of March, 1930.

CHARLES EVERETT BILLS. 

